Newman (population 956) is located in eastern Illinois in northeastern Douglas County. Newman is about 25 miles southeast (as the crow flies) of Urbana on U.S. Route 36. The Brushy Fork River runs through Newman as does a line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
The history of the town of Newman and its educational system is in need of further research. It is probable that Newman started a school system in the late 1800s. It is a fact that sports were offered at the school since at least 1913. That is the first year the record of the Newman football team is listed on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org). One of the more long-standing faculty members of the school was a Principal named J.H. Trinkle who served the school from 1911 to 1948! In fact, the Newman High School football field was named after him, Trinkle Field. (Thank you to Becki Swanter Heusel)
Newman High School existed through the 1993-94 school year. The Newman school system was annexed to the Hume-Shiloh School District (6 miles to the east) in 1994.
The Newman High School building stood on the north side of town, a reminder of the town’s historic past for several years. After sitting idle since its closing, the school began to fall into a state of disrepair. It was decided the cost of fixing the structure was not feasible. In November and December of 2006 the once grand Newman High School building was demolished. Let us hope the memories of this school live on for eternity.
Newman High School Quick Facts
Year opened: late 1800s / early 1900s
Year closed: 1994
Consolidated to: Hume Shiloh School District
School nickname: the “Redskins”
School colors: Red & White
School Fight Song: “Newman Loyalty”
University of Illinois Fight Song Tune
We’re loyal to you, Newman High.
We’re Red and we’re White, Newman High
We’ll back you to stand,
“Gainst the best in the land,
For we know you have sand, Newman High!
Rah Rah!
So crack out that ball, Newman High
We’re backing you all, Newman High
Our team is our fame protector,
On boys, for we expect a
Victory from you Newman High!
Newman HS “New Addition”
Newman High School Rear View – Gymnasium
Newman HS Gym Entrance
Redskin Mascot
Athletics
Newman High School’s Redskins had many successful seasons in several sports over the years. As stated above, the most extensive listing for the school is under the sport of football. Records are available for NHS from 1913 through 1992 in football. There were also titles won in the sports of boys track, girls track, baseball and boys basketball. It is believed the school offered girls basketball and is a fact the girls competed in volleyball. The Redskins were known for their competitive nature. Their best seasons are listed below.
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Boys Basketball
The Newman High School Redskins had some real nice boys basketball success during their existence. Sadly the records of the IHSA title winners are not listed. The best season as far as post season success occurred in the 1955-56 season. That year the Redskins won both their District and Regional to reach the round of the final 64! The team’s record and coach’s name are not available. The ‘Skins did have two great seasons toward the end of their time in 1989 and 1990. These two seasons saw back to back victory totals of 22 wins. We are very interested in the records of the other teams listed and even of those that might not be listed. If you have this information please forward it to us via e-mail. Several scores from basketball involving the Newman Redskins were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are listed below as well.
1921-22 Decatur District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Bement 20-14
2nd Rd lost to Clinton 30-5
Clinton lost to Atwood in semi-final
Atwood won District, finished 2nd in IHSA Tourney!
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1932-33 Tuscola District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Hindboro 23-17
Lost in 2nd Rd
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1933-34 Tuscola District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Arthur 27-19
2nd Rd lost to Brocton 38-9
Brocton lost to Longview in title game
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1934-35 Tuscola District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Hume 30-8
2nd Rd lost to Tuscola 30-18
Tuscola lost to Villa Grove in title game
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1935-36 Paris District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Semi-final Rd lost to Hume 27-22
Hume lost title game to Rardin
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1936-37 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1937-38 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1938-39 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1939-40 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1940-41 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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1941-42 Charleston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Charleston 49-31
Charleston lost to Paris in title game
Paris placed 2nd in State Tournament
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1942-43 Casey Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Paris 61-18
Paris beat Charleston in title game
Paris won IHSA State Championship
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1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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1944-45 Ashmore District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Brocton 46-44
Semi-final Beat Redmon 31-20
Title Game Beat Oakland 34-24
Paris Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Kansas 42-38
Kansas lost to Martinsville in semi-final
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1945-46 Casey Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Casey 40-29
Casey lost to Paris in title game
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1946-47 Paris Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Paris 46-34
Paris beat Kansas in title game
Paris won IHSA State Championship
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1947-48 Casey Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Paris 50-39
Paris beat Casey in title game
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1948-49 Brocton District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Redmon 37-31
Redmon beat Chrisman in title game
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1949-50 Newman District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Redmon 46-34
Semi-final Beat Longview 52-36
Title Game Beat Chrisman 47-43
Paris Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Charleston 39-28
Semi-final lost to Casey 62-55
Paris beat Casey in title game
Paris lost in Elite 8 Round
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1950-51 Chrisman District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed
Semi-final Beat Redmon 54-27
Title Game lost to Kansas 66-56
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1951-52 Newman District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Westfield 58-47
Semi-final lost to Chrisman 56-53
Chrisman lost to Kansas in title game
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1952-53 Kansas District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed
Semi-final Beat Longview 73-63
Title Game lost to Kansas 69-62
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1953-54 Chrisman District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed
Title Game lost to Chrisman 80-45
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1954-55 Casey Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Kansas 56-51
Paris beat Charleston in title game
Paris lost in Sweet 16 Round
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1955-56 28 – 5 Westfield District Champions Coach Tony Innis
1990-91 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1991-92 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1992-93 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1993-94 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
(Final season as Newman High School)
Former Newman Football / Baseball Field
High School in Background
Football
As stated above, the Newman High School Redskins have a very extensive record of their football seasons dating back to 1913 on the IHSA web site. The Redskins made the IHSA Class 1A playoffs on three occasions. The team of 1975-76 made it to the second round (Elite 8!) of the playoffs. The best of the Newman HS football seasons are listed below.
1913-14 11 – 0 Undefeated Season!! Coach Harrison McCown
1954-55 6 – 3 Coach Tony Innis
1955-56 5 – 3 Coach Tony Innis
1956-57 6 – 2 – 1 Coach Don Vandersnick
1960-61 7 – 1 – 1 Coach Jack Hall
1961-62 6 – 1 – 2 Coach Jack Hall
1962-63 6 – 3 Coach Ray Adams
1969-70 5 – 1 – 2 Coach Dick Hood
1970-71 5 – 2 – 1 Coach Dick Hood
1973-74 6 – 3 Coach Bill Crum
1975-76 9 – 2 IHSA Class 1A Elite 8 Qualifier Coach Bill Crum
1st Rd Beat Fithian Oakwood 26-0
2nd Rd lost to Carterville 20-6
Carterville lost to Concord Triopia in Semi-final
Triopia won IHSA State Tournament
1976-77 7 – 3 IHSA Class 1A Qualifier Coach Bill Crum
1st Rd lost to Caitlin 24-12
Caitlin lost to Argenta-Oreana in 2nd Rd
1981-82 8 – 1 IHSA Class 1A Qualifier Coach Terry Reed
The boys baseball team of Newman High also won some IHSA hardware. Three consecutive seasons had some definitive success for the Redskin hardballers. The seasons of 1987 – 89 brought home winning records and, most importantly, two Regional titles. These seasons are listed below.
1986-87 Regional Champions
1987-88 14 – 7 Nice Record Coach Brad Hatfill
1988-89 12 – 5 Regional Champions Coach Brad Hatfill
Four Newman Redskin boys brought home a total of 6 medals from the State Track Meet. In addition the boys team of 1938-39 won the District Meet for their area. The excellent accomplishments are listed below.
The Newman Lady Redskins also also had great success on the oval track. In fact, the Lady Redskins of 1987-88 finished 8th in the Class A State Track Meet. This was accomplished behind Tiffany Fry’s State Championship performance in the Shot Put and Shelly Minnott’s State Championship in the High Jump.Tiffinay Fry actually accomplished a rare feat in Illinois track & field history. Tiffany medaled in her event, the Shot Put, all four years of high school!! The medal-winning performances of the Newman Lady Tracksters are listed below.
1983-84 Jodi Alexander High Jump 8th Place
1984-85 Tiffany Fry Shot Put 5th Place
1985-86 Tiffany Fry Shot Put 6th Place
1986-87 Tiffany Fry Shot Put 4th Place
Shelly Minnott High Jump 3rd Place
1987-88 Team Finished 8th Overall at the State Meet!!
Individual Medalists
Tiffany Fry Shot Put State Champion!
Shelly Minnott High Jump State Champion!
Final Team Standings
1.) Maple Park Kaneland 41
2.) Chicago Luther South 36
3.) Carlinville 28
3.) Stanford Olympia 28
5.) Georgetown Ridge Farm 25
6.) Toulon 24
6.) Madison 24
8.) NEWMAN HIGH SCHOOL 20
8.) Genoa-Kingston 20
10.) Gardner-South Wilmington 18
Newman High School
Side Angle View
Girls Volleyball
Volleyball is the only other sport listed on the IHSA web site for the Lady Redskins. Only three seasons are listed with no mention of winning IHSA hardware. The best of the three seasons is listed below.
“We had our very own Chief Redskin perform at halftime of varsity games, much like Chief Illiniwek performs at the Illini games. Steve Underwood portrayed Chief Redskin during most of the ’80s. We had a blast when our basketball team won those 22 games in ’89; that is one of my best HS memories. We beat arch rival Chrisman to win the conference championship and everyone in the gym started chanting EOC EOC (East Okaw Conference.) I am a second generation Newman Grad, my mom was class of ’64. Thanks for the great website and trip down memory lane!”
**From Linda Driskill:
“My mother, Marcella Harris, taught & served the Newman school system beginning in 1938 thru 2000. Initially, she was hired as the music teacher at both the grade school, as well as the high school. She taught the vocal as well as the instrumental music and led the marching band during football season. Because she went to NHS as a 21 year old first year teacher, by the time she retired, she’d taught 2 & 3 generations of students from the same family. In 1943, she married the Walnut Point country school teacher & a year later, moved to Sidell & taught music at Metcalf High School until 1950. At that time, she took a hiatus from full-time teaching & became a full-time wife & mother until the 1960 school year, when she returned as the high school math teacher at NHS. As a junior class sponsor, she spent every fall Friday night at the concession stand, which was completely remodled under her direction in the mid 1960’s. During the 40’s, 50’s & 60’s, Newman citizens LIVED for Redskins football. Celana & Marta Morrow were the “Chief Redskin” (pattered After the fabled & well-documented “Chief Illiwek” at the U of I), throughout their years at NHS. I am unsure who immediately followed Marta but in the mid-60’s, Anna & Paula House, another pair of sisters, began their tenure as Chief Redskin. Linda Catron became the Chief Redskin & served thru her graduation in 1969.”
More information is needed to make the Newman High School Redskins’ page a more interesting and informative page. A photo of the school, the school fight song, girls and boys basketball and baseball / softball records are all needed. If you have this information and ANY other information regarding the town of Newman and its former High School you can e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:
i really enjoyed the trip down memory lane as i relished the 3 years i was principal at the high school 1983 to 86
many fond memories of some terrific students
i really enjoyed the trip down memory lane as i relished the 3 years i was principal at the high school 1983 to 86
many fond memories of some terrific students